That was my recipe too. If I ever felt hearburn coming on a glass of that stuff, a mighty belch and it was gone, chemistry 101. And yet I very nearly got cancer anyway. It took years of treatment - probably 5 or 6 sessions spread in six month intervals - to get rid of all the damage done while I thought I had it controlled with baking soda. I hope you get it looked at. A simple painless upper endoscopy can tell you the tale. Maybe the caking soda is doing the trick for you. But if not the meds - nexium for me - made me heartburn free totally and after treatment my esophagus is in great shape finally.
We have a friend who went through similar.
Glad your esophagus is in great shape, now.